Sole and shoe positioning device



' y 1941- J. 'r. LANCASTER 2,241,515

SOLE AND SHOE POSITIONING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 3, ,J. T. LANCASTER 2,241,515

SOLE AND SHOE POSITIONING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 raga Wvavma v 77A A,

68 w A (g? Patented May 13, 1941 SOLE. AND SHOE POSITIONING DEVICE John '1. Lancaster, Newton, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,803

25 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and to devices for use in positioning soles relatively to shoes and is illustrated herein with reference to machines for use in cement attaching soles to shoes.

Before an outsole can be attached to a shoe, either by cement or otherwise, it must be positioned properly on the shoe bottom. When full length outsoles are used, the positioning operation performed either manually or by gaging mechanism usually associated with the sole attaching means, for example, a sole attaching press. However, if the outsole is a so-called short outsole, which extends only a short distance rearwardly of the heel breast line of the shoe and terminates in a straight rear edge face, it cannot be con veniently positioned by either of the above methods because it has no rear or heel seat portion to be engaged and positioned on the shoe. Since outsoles of this type are being used extensively today to improve the construction of the shoes and also to economize in their manufacture, the

oblem of positioning these outsoles on shoe toms prior to their attachment is becoming wreasingly important.

Short outsoles of the type referred to are ususilly employed with heels of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,121,172, granted June 21, 1938, on an application filed in the name of. Fred C. Lovejoy, such a heel being provided at its breast with a transverse slot or groove adapted to receive the rear portion of the short outsole and being also provided with a lip which projects forwardly from the breast of the heel and is arranged to overlie the rear portion of the short outsole to reinforce f the joint between the outsole and heel. This interengaging relation of the heel and outsole is particularly advantageous in such constructions because it produces an accurate and durable joint between the heel and outsole that Will not open up under the constant flexing of the shoe during wear.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes, particularly, 1" short outsoles of the type hereinbefore referred To the attainment of this object the invention provides, in accordance with one of its features, an improved device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes, the device'being ranged to engage an outsole placed on the shoe and maintain the outsole in a proper position relatively to the shoe bottom until the outsole has been attached thereto. As illustrated, the embracing means is made in two parts which are provided with wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of the shoe and being adapted to centralize themselves automatically relatively to the shoe bottom as they engage the shoe. The wings are simultaneously movable toward and away from each other at equal speeds and are normally urged toward each other by resilient pressure whereby they may be caused to remain in gripping relation with the shoe until after the outsole has been attached, thereby permitting the device to be moved about with the shoe.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the means carried by the embracing means or wings for engaging an outsole and maintaining it in a proper position relatively to the shoe comprises gages arranged for equal and opposite movement relatively to, or independently of, the wings and being also arranged to travel with the wings as the latter move toward and from each other during their operation upon a shoe. As herein illustrated, the sole gages are urged constantly into their innermost or closed position by resilient means acting thereon, this inner position being preferably determined by the wings themselves.

The illustrated gages are further provided with curved projections or lips arranged to overlap sole engaging surfaces or abutments formed thereon and thereby insure that the gages will always contact with the sole, for example, with the opposite edge faces thereof. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the gages will always centralize the rear portion of the outsole relatively to the wings and, since these wings, as stated, are always substantially central relatively to the shoe, the rear portion of the outsole will likewise be positioned centrally with respect to the shoe.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, as seen from the rear;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device in perspective;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device operating upon a shoe and outsole, the forward portion of the outsole being 1 heel portion of the shoe.

bent away from the shoe bottom and the cement thereon being activated by a solvent;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3, the shoe being indicated by a broken line;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows the shoe and outsole receiving pressure in a sole attaching press with the present device in operative engagement with the shoe and sole; and V Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the heel portion of the shoe with a heel attached thereto, the central portion of the figure being shown in section.

The illustrated device comprises means, indicated generally by the numeral l5, arranged to embrace and grip an end portion of a shoe for example, the heel portion, to which an outsole is to be attached, the device remaining in gripping relation with the shoe so that it is portable with the shoe. The embracing means Ill is composed of two parts l2 and I4 the forward portions of which constitute wings shaped to conform substantially to the heel portion of a shoe from about its heel breast line to its heel end and being of sufficient height to extend upwardly somewhat beyond the widest portion of the shoe. These shoe engaging wings l2, l4 are preferably composed of metal, such as steel, and are provided respectively on their inner surfaces with linings or pads l6, l8 of cushioning material, such as rubber or leather, which may be secured to the wings in any usual manner as, for example, by rivets 20. As best shown in Fig. 4, the pads I6, l8 are relieved or cut away at their central portions to form hollows or depressions 22, 24 and to leave thicker portions 26, 28 at their upper margins and thicker portions 30, 32 at their lower margins for actually engaging the shoe. The purpose of relieving the pads in the manner indicated is to cause the wings to engage the shoe adjacent to its bottom or heel seat portion and also to engage said shoe a little above the widest part of said heel portion, thereby permitting the wings to operate with equal effectiveness on both right and left shoes and also permitting them to centralize themselves, and the device as a whole, relatively to the heel portion of the shoe. It should be pointed out that the reason this pad construction permits the wings to operate upon both right and left shoes is because the curvature at the heel portion of either a right or left shoe is substantially symmetrical adjacent to the shoe bottom, this symmetrical area usually extending upwardly from the shoe bottom about to of an inch. Above this symmetrical portion right and left shoes difier somewhat in their curvatures, especially at the widest part of the shoe. Consequently, by relieving the pads at the areas thereof which correspond to the widest part of the heel portion of the shoe, the pads will engage the shoe adjacent to its bottom surface and also at a point above the widest part of the shoe so that the Wings will tend to centralize themselves on the heel portion of the shoe as they embrace and grip the same, whether the shoe be a right or a left shoe. Since the pads l6,.l8 of the wings are composed of resilient ma terial such as rubber, they will also compress somewhat under pressure which further contributes to the proper. engagement and centralization of the positioning device relatively to the In addition to the pads vided along their top edges, as viewed in Fig. 1, with inwardly extending lips or tabs 34, 36 arranged to overlap the heel seat portion of the shoe and position the device heightwise thereof.

t their back ends the wings l2, l4 have rearwardly extending webs 38, 40 (Fig. 2) which connect the wings to a pair of upstanding slide members 42, 44 integral with the wings and having formed therein undercut horizontal slots whereby the slides are mounted for sliding movement toward and from each other on a support 46 which is fixed relatively to the wings, the support 46 being relatively long and being shaped at op posite sides of its central portion to fit the undercut slots in the slides but, as shown in Fig. 5, being substantially rectangular at said central portion. The rectangular portion of the support 46 determines the inner limit of movement of the wings l2, l4 toward each other and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this limit is such that the rear portions of the wings are separated by only a small amount. I

It will be evident from the foregoing that the slides 42, 44 slide along the support 46 to cause the wings of the positioning device to move toward and from each other, thereby enabling these wings to embrace and grip the heel portions of shoes of different shapes or sizes. The slide portions 42, 44 are provided respectively at their upper ends with rearwardly extending pins 48 and 50 between which extends a tension spring 52 which normally maintains the slides and wings l2, [4 toward each other at the inner limit of their sliding movement on the support.

Inwardly of the pins 48, 50 the slides 42, 44 are provided with upwardly extending bosses 54, 5B which carry, respectively, pins 58 and Gil. Threaded into the support 45 are screws 62, 54 which are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the pins 58, '50 when the wings l2, M are in their innermost positions, as shown in Fig. l. Pivotally mounted on the screws 62, 64 are a pair of levers 66, 68, the lower portions of which provide handles which may be readily manipulated with one hand by an operator. The upper portions of the levers 66, 68 are slotted, as shown at 10, I2 and the pins 58, extend into these slots. The levers 65, 68 also have inwardly extending gear segments l4, 15 formed thereon and these gear segments mesh with each other to interconnect the levers 65, 68 for equal and opposite swinging movement about the pivots B2, 64. It will be seen, therefore, that by grasping the handles of the levers 66, 68 with one hand, the operator can move these handles together, and, due to the connection of the levers to the slides 42, 44, cause the slides to travel at equal speeds away from each other along the support 45 and against the force of the spring 52, thereby separating the wings l2 and I4 and permitting them to be located around the heel portion of a shoe such, for example, as the shoe A (Fig. 3) which is to have an outsole B attached to it by cement. Upon releasing the levers-66, 58, the spring 52 moves the wings inwardly on the support toward each other until they embrace and grip the heel portion of the shoe A, as shown in Fig. 3. As stated, the arrangement of the mechanism is such that the Wings l2, l4 will automatically centralize themselves with respect to the heel portion of the shoe or, in other words, will centralize themselves relatively to the longitudinal median line of the heel seat portion of the shoe, this result being obtained by the fact [6, l8 on the wings I2, [4, these wings are pr 15 that the wings travel equal amounts in opposite directions during their opening and closing movement, and because the shoe engaging pads I6 and I8 are shaped to engage the shoe adjacent to its bottom surface where the curve at the heel portion thereof is substantially symmetrical, whether the shoe is a right or a left shoe.

The slides 42, 44 of the wings I2, I4 are pro vided at their lower sides with downwardly extending screws BI], 82 (Figs. 1 and 2) upon which are pivotally mounted rotary members 84, 86 having forwardly extending pins 88, 90 secured respectively therein. On the forward end of each pin 88 and 90 is mounted respectively a gage arm or finger 92 and 94, these gage arms hav ing split hub portions 96, 98 on their inner ends whereby the arms are clamped to the pins by screws I00, I02. The gage arms or fingers 92, 94 curve upwardly, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, toward the wings I2 and I4 and they then extend forwardly and upwardly in gradual curves until they terminate somewhat forwardly of the wings I2, I4, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Secured respectively by screws I64, I06, to the forward ends of the arms 92, 94 are sole gages I08, IIG

which extend over the ends of the arms, as. viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, and inwardly for substantial distances and terminate in upwardly curved lips I I2, II4 which overlie undercut shoulders H5, H8 formed on the gages. These undercut shoulders I I6, I I8 are arranged to engage the opposite edge faces of the outsole and the upwardly curved lips I I2, I I4 overlie the outsole, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and insure that it is always engaged by the shoulders.

The rotary members 84, 86 on the screws 80, 82 have inwardly extending arms I20, I22 formed respectively thereon which are arranged, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, to overlap each other and are provided, respectively, at their overlapping portions, with longitudinal slots I24, I26. Secured to the lower side of the support 46, or formed integrally therewith, is a U-shaped guide member I28 (best shown in Fig. 4) which extends at right angles to the support and forms a fixed guideway for a sliding block I30, which floats in the gui-deway or, in other words, is free to slide in either direction therein. The floating block I30 carries a downwardly projecting pin I32 which, as shown in Fig. 4, extends into the slots in the overlapping arms I20, I22, thereby interconnecting these arms for equal and opposite swinging movement so that the rotary members 84, 86 will rotate equally and oppositely about the pins 83, 82. Accordingly, the gage arms 92, 94 are arranged for equal and opposite swinging movement relatively to each other about their pivots and independently of the equal and opposite sliding movement of the wings I2, I4 although, as stated, the gage arms also partake of the sliding movement of the wings because they are pivoted on the slides 42, 44 which carry the wings.

In order to maintain the gage arms 92, 94, nor mally at the inner limit of their pivotal movement except when operating upon a sole, a tension spring I34 (Figs. 2 and 4) extends between the pins 88 and 90 and is secured to the pins by hooks provided in the lower sides thereof.

The inner limit of rotary movement of the gage arms 92, 94 is determined by contact of the gages themselves with the wings but, of course, in operation the gages will never be located in this innermost position because of their engagement with a sole. In order to insure that the gages will always return to their innermost or closed positions, leaf springs I35, I38 may also be provided, if desired, to supplement the spring I34, these leaf springs being mounted on lateral projections I40, I42 formed respectively on the rotary members 84, 86 and being secured thereto by screws I44, I46, the upper ends of the leaf springs, as shown in Fig. 4, engaging the slides 42, 44 upon which the rotary members are pivoted.

In the use of the device the operator may grasp it by the handles on the levers 66, 63 with one hand and swing these handles inwardly toward each other to separate the wings I2 and I4 on the support 46 and permit them to be located around the heel portion of the shoe A, irrespective of its size or whether it is a right or left shoe. He then releases the handles to permit the wings to be moved toward each other by the spring 52 to embrace and grip the heel portion of the shoe. While thus embracing the shoe, the wings I2, I4 adjust or centralize themselves and the positioning device as a whole relatively to the heel portion of the shoe or, more specifically, relatively to the longitudinal median line of its heel seat portion, as explained above.

The operator then places the outsole B upon the shoe bottom, this outsole, as illustrated in Fig, 3, being a short outsole of the type adapted for use with the heel above referred to, and accordingly extending only a short distance rearwardly of the heel breast line of the shoe. How ever, it should be pointed out that the present device may also be used with full length outsoles, if desired. After the short outsole B has been positioned on the forepart of the shoe bottom, its rear portion may be readily introduced between the equally and oppositely movable sole gages I08, IIO by separating the latter manually against the force of the spring I34, and the sole gages, when released, are caused by their inward movement to position or centralize the rear portion of the outsole, relatively to wings i2, i4 and to the heel portion of the shoe bottom.

Since the positioning device ID will remain by its own pressure in gripping engagement with the heel portion of the shoe so that it is portable therewith, and since the sole gages I98, Ilt will likewise be maintained by their spring I34 in operative position against the outsole B, it will be seen that, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the forward portion of the outsole may be lifted away from the shoe bottom and bent back by the operator to permit him to apply a solvent to the cement which has been previously applied to the marginal portions of the outsole provided, of course, the outsole is to be attached by cement which requires activation such as pyroxylin cement. If some other type of cement is used, the operator may conveniently apply this cement to the outsole as indicated in Fig. 3. The forepart of the outsole may be bent away from the shoe bottom without displacing the centralized position of the rear portion of the outsole which will be maim tained in said centralized position by the sole gages I96, III! during this operation, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the solvent has been applied to the cement on the outsole B, the outsole may be returned against the shoe bottom and the forepart thereof will reassume its original position with respect to the shoe because the rear portion of the outsole has been firmly held against lateral or longitudinal displacement by the sole gages. Accordingly, the entire assembly, including the positioning device I 8, may then be mounted right side up in a cement'sole attaching press I50 (Fig. 6) and the short outsole permanently attached to theshoe bottom. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the sole attaching press I50 may be one of the socalled gageless type which is not provided with sole and shoe gages or other mechanism for relatively positioning the sole and shoe in the press, the press shown herein, by way of example, being of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,098,773, granted November 9, 1937, upon an application filed in the name of William C. Card, Jr. As disclosed in the patent referred to, the sole attaching press is provided with a flexible pad I52 (Fig. 6) which may be inflated through a pipe I54 by fluid under pressure such as air, which causes the upper surface of the pad to expand and move the shoe upwardly against pressure sustaining abutments I55, I58 arranged respectively to engage the shoe at its toe and heel portions, these abutments being formed integrally with a yoke or bale I59 extending lengthwise of the pad although, they could, of course, be adjustable on the bale if desired. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the positioning device IE! is so constructed that it can conveniently remain inoperative relation with the shoe A to permit the sole gages I83, II!) to maintain the rear portion of the outsole B in proper position while the sole attaching pressure is being applied. The forepart of the outsole may be positioned relatively to the shoe bottom by hand when placing the shoe and sole in the press or, if desired, a small amount of pressure may be first applied to the shoe and sole after which the pressure may be relieved and the forepart of the outsole then positioned properly with respect to the forepart of the shoe before the full pressure is applied.

The pad in an attaching press of this type is usually protected on its upper surface with a cover of flexible leather or similar material to reduce wear on the pad and protect it from being damaged. Consequently, the portions of the sole gages and the wings I2, I4 which underlie the bottom surface of the outsole cannot injure the pad by cutting into its shoe receiving surface. However, the pad may be reinforced at the portions engaged by the wings and sole gages, if desired, by canvas, metal or the like, which may be vulcanized into the rubber.

After the sole and shoe have remained under pressure for a period sufficient to insure that the cement has set to attach the outsole permanently to the shoe bottom, the pad may be deflated and the sole and shoe removed from the press to-' gether with the portable positioning device and the latter may be released from its gripping engagement with the shoe merely by separating the wings manually, as described above.

A heel I-I (Fig. 7) may be attached to the shoe bottom in any usual or convenient manner to complete the construction of the shoe. As illustrated in Fig. '7, the heel H is of the type referred to which is particularly adapated for use with a short outsole and has a forwardly extending lip I60 at its breast portion arranged to overlie the rear portion of the outsole. Below the lip a transverse slot I62 is provided in which the rear end portion of the outsole is inserted to reinforce the joint between theoutsole and heel. It should be pointed out that in making shoes of this type, the extreme rear marginal portion of the short outsole is not coated with cement'so that it does not adhere to the shoe bottom in the sole attaching operation and, accordingly, this portion'is free to be inserted in the groove I62 when the heel is attached to the shoe bottom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means arranged to grip an end portion of a shoe prior to its assembly with an outsole and to remain in gripping engagement therewith during the sole attaching operation, spaced sole engaging members movably mounted on the shoe gripping means, and means for causing equal and opposite movement of the sole engaging members relatively to the shoe gripping means thereby to centralize a sole relatively to the bottom of the shoe held by the shoe gripping means.

2. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising resilient means arranged to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe prior to its assembly with an outsole and to remain in gripping relation with the shoe, said means being adapted to centralize itself relatively to said heel portion as it grips the same, and means carried by said resilient means constructed and arranged to engage an outsole placed on the shoe bottom and maintain said outsole in a properly centralized position relatively to the shoe until the outsole has been attached to the shoe, said sole engaging means being spring pressed into operative position.

3. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means arranged to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe, said means being adapted to engage the shoe adjacent to its bottom where the curvature of said heel portion is substantially symmetrical, thereby causing said embracing means to centralize itself relatively to the shoe, and means carried by said embracing means for engaging the rear portion of an outsole placed on the shoe bottom and maintaining said outsole in a central position thereon until the outsole has been attached to the shoe.

4. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe and separable against resilient pressure to permit them to grip the shoe and remain in gripping relation thereto, and means carried by said wings and movable relatively thereto for engaging an outsole placed on the shoe and maintaim ing said outsole in a central position on the shoe .bottom while the outsole is being attached to the shoe.

5. A device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means including oppositely disposed wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe adjacent to the shoe bottom, said wings being separable against spring pressure to cause them to embrace and grip shoes of different shapes and to remain in gripping relation therewith, and members carried'by said wings constructed and arranged to engage the rear portion of an outsole placed on the shoe and maintain the outsole in a central position on the shoe bottom, said members being spring pressed into operative position and being ar ranged to maintain the rear portion of the outsole in proper position while permitting the forward portions thereof to be bent away from the shoe bottom preparatory to the attachment of the outsole of the shoe.

6. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe, means for causing said wings to grip said heel portion of a shoe, sole positioning members mounted on said wings for movement with and relatively to the wings, means for causing the sole positioning members to centralize a sole relatively to the bottom of a shoe embraced by the wings and to maintain the sole in that position during the sole attaching operation, and projections on said wings for engaging the shoe bottom and determining the position of the wings heightwise of the shoe and of the sole positioning members relatively to the bottom of the shoe.

'7. A portable dem'ce for use in positioning on shoe bottoms outsoles that extend only a short distance rearwardly of the heel breast line of a shoe, said device comprising means arranged to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe before an outsole is assembled therewith, and means mounted on said embracing means and constructed and arranged to engage the rear end portion of a short outsole and to maintain said outsole in a central position relatively to the shoe bottom during the sole attaching operation.

8. A portable device for use in positioning on shoe. bottoms outsoles that extend only a short distance rearwardly of the heel breast line of a shoe, said device comprising means arranged to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe and to remain in gripping engagement therewith, and means carried by said embracing means and movable relatively thereto for engaging a short outsole adjacent to its rear edge face and locating said outsole in a proper position relativels to the shoe. bottom until the outsole has been attached thereto.

9. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe and grip it under'r-esilient pressure, said wings being adapted to move equally and oppositely into engagement with the heel portion of a shoe, and means carried by said wings constructed and arranged to engage the rear portion of an outsole placed on the shoe and position the outsole relatively to the shoe bottom.

10. A device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means arranged to embrace and grip an end portion of a shoe and remain in gripping relation therewith, means carried by said embracing means constructed and arranged to engage an outsole placed on the shoe and position the outsole relatively to the shoe bottom, and means on said sole positioning means for insuring that the sole positioning means will engage the outsole in a predetermined manner.

11. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe and to grip said portion under pressure, said wings being arranged for movement toward and away from each other, and means carried by said wings and movable relatively thereto for engaging the opposlte edge faces of an outsole placed on the shoe and positioning the outsole relatively to the shoe bottom.

12. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe, means for causing said wings to grip the shoe and remain in gripping relation therewith, gages carried by said wings for engaging the opposite edges faces of an outsole placed on the shoe and positioning the outsole relatively to the shoe bottom, and means on said gages for insuring that they will engage the opposite edge faces of the outsole, said means comprising curved projections arranged to overlap the outsole and thereby cause the sole engaging portions of the gages to engage said opposite edge faces.

13. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means arranged to engage an end portion of a shoe and grip "the same under resilient pressure, said means including a pair of wings shaped to embrace the opposite sides of the shoe, a member upon which said wings are mounted for a to-andfro movement, means for moving the wings toward and away from each other on the member thereby'permitting them to embrace and grip the shoe, and means movable with said member for engaging an outsole placed on the shoe and maintaining it in a proper position relatively to the shoe bottom.

14. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, a pair of wings on the support for embracing and gripping the heel portion of a shoe, mechanism for moving said wings equally and oppositely on the support, means carried by said wings for engaging a sole placed on the shoe and maintaining the sole in position thereon, said sole engaging means being movable on the support with said wings, and means for permitting movement of said sole engaging means independently of said Wings.

15. A device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, a pair of on said support, means pivoted on said wings for engaging a sole placed on the shoe and positioning the sole relatively to the shoe, said positioning means being movable on the support with said wings, means normally urging the positioning means into sole engaging position, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said positioning means to equal and opposite movement.

16. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, wings on the support for embracing and gripping the heel portion of a shoe, a spring for constantly urging said wings toward operative position, mechanism for moving the wings away from operative position, means carried by said wings for engaging a sole placed on the shoe and positioning the sole relatively thereto, said positioning means being movable on the support with the Wings and being also movable independently of said wings, and means for limiting the independent movement of said positioning means to equal and opposite movement.

17. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings arranged to embrace a shoe and grip it under resilient pressure to hold the device on the shoe, said wings being movable equally and oppositely toward and away from each other, members carried by said wings for engaging and positioning a sole placed on said shoe, said members being movable toward and away from each other with the wings, means for permitting movement of said members independently of said wings, and means for limiting the independent movement of said members to equal amounts in opposite directions.

18. A device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wings arranged to embrace and grip a shoe, means for effecting equal and opposite movement of said wings, members carried by said wings and movable therewith for engaging and positioning a sole on the shoe, and means for permitting equal and opposite movement of said members independently of said wings.

19. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising means movable to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe, thereby holding the device upon th shoe, means movable relatively to said embracing means for engaging a sole placed on the shoe bottom and positioning the sole thereon, said means being also movable with said embracing means, and means for causing the sole positioning means to remain central relatively to the embracing means irrespective of the movement of said embracing means.

20. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, wings on the support shaped to embrace and grip the'heel portion of a shoe, means carried by said wings for engaging and positioning a sole placed on said shoe, and mechanism for effecting equal and opposite movement of said wings on the support, said mechanism comprising a pair of hand levers pivoted on the support, connections between said levers and said wings, and means interconnecting'said levers for equal and opposite swinging movement on the support.

21. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of wing shaped members arranged for equal and opposite movement in predetermined paths, said members being adapted to embrace and grip the heel portion of a shoe and to remain'through resilient pressure in gripping relation therewith, means movable with each of said members for engaging a sole placed on the shoe and positioning it relatively thereto, said positioning means being also arranged for swinging movement relativelyto said members, and means for limiting said swinging movement to equal amounts in opposite directions, said limiting means including a pair of pivoted arms and connections between said arms for effecting equal and opposite movement thereof.

22. A device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, members on the support for embracing and gripping the heel portion of a shoe, thereby holding the device on the shoe, means for moving said members equally and oppositelyon the support, spring means constantly urging said members toward each other, a gage pivoted on each of said members for positioning a sole placed on the shoe bottom, said gages being movable on the support with said members and being also pivotally movable relatively to said members, and means for limiting said pivotal movement of the gages to equal amounts in oppositev directions, and means for limiting said pivotal movement of the gages to equal amounts in opposite directions, said means comprising arms on the gages arranged in overlapping relation and provided with longitudinal slots, a pin extending through said slots and interconnecting thearms for equal and opposite movement, a block carrying said pin, and a guideway fixed on the support at right angles thereto in which said block is free to slide in a predetermined path.

23. A'portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a support, relatively movable wings on the support shaped to embrace the heel portion of a shoe, a spring constantly urging said wings toward each other, levers pivoted on the support and connected to said wings for moving them away from each other against the force of said spring, said levers being interconnected by gear segments for equal and opposite swinging movement, arms pivoted on said wings and arranged for movement therewith, gages carried by said arms and arranged to engage the opposite edge faces of an outsole placed on the shoe bottom and position the outsole relatively thereto, said arms being arranged for pivotal movement independently of said wings, a spring constantly urging the arms toward each other about their pivots, and means for causing the pivotal movement of said arms to be equal andopposite, said means including overlapping portions on said arms, a movable pin engaging said overlapping portions, and means for controlling the movement of said pin so that said overlapping portions are caused to move equally and oppositely.

24. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes comprising a pair of relatively movable wings shaped to embrace and grip the opposite sides of the heel portion of a shoe, said wings being adapted to engage the shoe adjacent to its bottom surface where the curvature of said heel portion is substantially symmetrical, a support for said wings, a spring tending constantly to move said wings toward each other into gripping position, means on said support arranged to move the wings equally and oppositely thereon, arms pivoted on said wings and extending forwardly thereof, gages carried by said arms for positioning a sole placed on the shoe, means tending constantly to swing said arms toward each other about their pivots, and connections between said arms for causing equal and opposite pivotal movement thereof relatively to said wings, said gages being arranged to centralize the rear portion of the outsole relatively to the shoe bottom by their equal and opposite pivotal movement relatively to said wings.

25. A portable device for use in relatively positioning soles and shoes forsole attaching operations comprising, shoe engaging means having spaced portions arranged for movement toward and from each other and adapted to embraceand grip the heel portion of a shoe, and means for I engaging an outsole and maintaining it in predetermined relation to the shoe, the outsole ,engaging means being connected with the shoe engaging means and arranged for movement with the spaced portions thereof and also for movement relatively to the spaced portions.

JOHN T. LANCASTER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,241,515. May 15, 19M.

JOHN T. LANCASTER. It is hereby certified that error-appears in the printed specification of the aboye numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1.1., secondcolumn,- line 714., claim 5, for theword "of"read --to--; page 5, sec- 0nd column, line 11L, claim 15, strike out the article "a"; page 6, first column, lines 65 and 66, claim 22, strike out the words and comma and means for limiting said pivotal movement of the gages to equal amounts in opposite directions and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21mm day of June, A. D. 19L 1 Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

